Small Business Should Never Underestimate Taxes
The Internal Revenue Service has been more active in targeting small businesses for tax audits in the last several years. New businesses have spent 2.5 billion each year preparing taxes and answering questions from the IRS about tax return inquiries.
However, there are things that any new business can do to lessen its tax burden. We will discuss how choosing the right business entity can make your life as a new entrepreneur much easier in the coming future.
Healthcare Savings
Medical costs are rising and can be quite expensive. It is smart to save money for unexpected health care expenses even if you are healthy now. This can be accomplished through a Health Savings Plan or HSA.
An HSA is a type of savings account that lets you set aside money on a pre-tax basis to pay for qualified medical expenses. By using untaxed dollars in a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and some other expenses, you may be able to lower your overall health care costs. HSA funds generally may not be used to pay premiums. This will help greatly in lowering taxes associated with medical costs.
HSA helps you save in taxes by letting your contributions be pretax, letting them grow tax-free, and allowing any withdrawals to also be tax-free. They are an invaluable source of savings and peace of mind.
Home Office Expenses
Using part of your home for business allows you to deduct expenses for the business use of your home. This can be applied to all types of homes including business owners who rent.
If you use your home exclusively and regularly for conducting business you can deduct the following:
- Mortgage Interest
- Insurance
To qualify for the home office deduction, you must show that your home is used regularly and exclusively for conducting business and is the principal place of business.
There are two methods for calculating the house office deduction. In the standard method, you use Form 8829 to itemize the various expenses involved in using and maintaining your home office. This includes rent or mortgage interest payments, utilities, homeowners insurance premiums, and property taxes. In the simplified method, you determine the square footage of your home office (up to 300 square feet) and multiply it by five dollars.
The simplified method is more straightforward but you should see which one gives you a larger deduction amount.
Advertising
Self-Employed people should keep in mind that all advertising costs are fully tax-deductible.
This can include the following
- The cost of printing business cards, flyers, and mailers
- Social media advertising like Facebook ads
- Promotions at conventions and trade shows
- The cost of advertising agencies
- Television and radio advertising
- Employing freelancers
You can also deduct all commissions paid to non-employees for sales and marketing purposes. This can include payments to individual sales reps, or marketing channels, and a platform like Amazon.
Hiring A Family Member
Employing a family member allows you to shelter income from taxes. Small business owners can even hire their children. You can pay a lower marginal tax rate or even go as far as eliminating the tax on income paid to one’s child.
A sole proprietorship does not need to pay the Federal Unemployment Tax or FUTA tax for a child or spouse. This tax is defined as a piece of legislation that imposes a payroll tax on any business with employees. The revenue it generates is allocated to state unemployment insurance agencies and used to fund unemployment benefits for people who are out of work. This can lead to great savings. Also, depending on the circumstances of the job, you might even be able to put aside some retirement savings for them.
Get A Tax Resale Certificate
As a savvy small business retailer, you must be aware of how to utilize tax resale certificates to your best advantage. In short, a tax retail certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that are going to be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.
You must understand that tax resale certificates can also be used on items that will be resold. Office supplies, such as new computers for your employees, would not fall under the category of retail. It would be considered fraud not to pay sales tax on these items.
If this is confusing for you, just think of tax resale certificates as state tax exemption certificates. Some states call them exemption certificates or reseller’s permits.
Remember The Deductions
Read our helpful article on deductions that your small business can not afford to miss. It includes the following:
- Travel by airplane, train, bus, or car between your home and your business destination. (If you’re provided with a ticket or you’re riding free as a result of a frequent traveler or similar program, your cost is zero.)
- Fares for taxis or other types of transportation between the airport or train station and your hotel, the hotel, and the work location, and from one customer to another, or from one place of business to another.
- Shipping of baggage, and sample or display material between your regular and temporary work locations.
- Using your car while at your business destination. You can deduct actual expenses or the standard mileage rate, as well as business-related tolls and parking fees. If you rent a car, you can deduct only the business-use portion for the expenses.
Getting A Tax Resale Certification Is One Of The Best Things You Can Do As An Entrepreneur
If you decide to start a business, a tax resale certificate can really save you money on taxes.
In short, a tax retail certificate allows you not to pay sales tax on items that you plan to resell. This can also apply to supplies that are going to be used in products that you will resell, such as wood for a cabinet.